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Words of Wisdom

April 15, 2010 - 3:41pm — admin

On Wednesday, April 14, the Harvard University Extension School (http://www.extension.harvard.edu/) brought together a panel to discuss Sustaining our Earth's Ecosystems. Panelists included:

  • Dr. Eric Chivan - Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Author, MD
  • Alexandra Cousteau - Blue Legacy International founder, National Geographic "Emerging Explorer"
  • Mark Plotkin - Neotropical Ethnobotanist, Smithsonian's "35 People who make a difference"
  • Steve Curwood - Pulitzer Prize winner, Host of Living on Earth on NPR

In a sprawling discussion covering sustainability, biodiversity, conservation, and spirituality, several common themes emerged.  These included the interconnectedness of everything (and the associated need to stop compartmentalizing all climate issues), the ability to protect the environment buy protecting the people, and the hope and opportunity presented by the burgeoning innovation economy.

Some of the highlighted points from each of the speakers included:

Steve Curwood

  • "We have run out of time. We must act."
  • America's biggest hurdle is the "rapidly declining stock of critical thinking."
  • Corporations are robots that are taking over the world (but there is an upside to more corporate involvement as well).

Dr. Chivan

  • Physicians need to be involved at all stages of environmental and climate work.
  • "Environmental change is like Armageddon in slow motion."
  • There is a serious disconnect for most people between climate change and seeing trees blooming and drinking fresh water.
  • The proliferation of nuclear power is a bigger threat to the world than nuclear warheads.
  • The psychological impacts of climate change on children need to be studied.

Alexandra Cousteau

  • There is a clear progression from seeing the biosphere/environment to understanding it to loving it to protecting it.
  • Currently all water issues are treated separately. "We must return to our fifth grade science and the water cycle" and put them all on the table at the same time.
  • Water issues are not just for "them" but also for "us" and "me."
  • The ethnosphere is being lost just as fast at the hydrosphere and biosphere.
  • Follow Alexandra's journey for Water throughout the US at http://www.alexandracousteau.com/

Mark Plotkin

  • By protecting the people, you can protect the environment.
  • Anecdotal evidence of climate changes from indigenous populations is oten more accurate and prescient than anything developed by scientists.
  • 80% of all new drugs are from nature. New strategies are needed to protect this knowledge.
  • "Our problems were caused by people, and can now be solved by people."